MIS 5102, Spring 2011
Project Management Simulation - Phase 1
Viju Raghupathi
Project Management Simulation – PHASE 1 (25 points)
(Due before we meet on March 16)
You can work individually or in groups. But note that since this is a hands-on exercise, you can
get the maximum benefit out of it if you actually run the simulation yourself.
The assignment is divided into phases. This is phase-1 of the assignment.
 Phase-1: This is an introductory exercise to orient you towards the rules and interface of
the simulation. It should take you no more than 30-45 minutes to become familiar with
the game. Also note that after a run, you have the option of starting over and re-running
the simulation as many times as you need, to become adept. The simulation is open and
available from March 2nd (25 points) and needs to be completed before 5pm on March
16. You can log out after a run (not during a run), and log back in at a later time to try
another run.
 Phase-2: This is the major part of the simulation. When we meet on March 16, we will
work together on this phase in class. My objective is to ensure that, when we meet, you
have a good feel for the simulation, so we can move on to actually playing out some
scenarios rather than spending time learning the rules. The grading for phase-2 will be
similar to phase-1 and will be based on your learning efforts that are demonstrated
through the class summary of users’ runs.
 Attendance for Phase-2: Since this is a hands-on exercise conducted in class, credit will
be based on whether you attend the session or not. Absences will automatically result in
zero credit.
Introduction
This exercise offers a hands-on opportunity to explore the complexities of managing projects
through rapid – and in comparison with real project experience, safe and inexpensive –
experimentation. By setting and changing project parameters and observing effects on project
outcomes, you can discover how the three main levers of project management (scope, resources,
and schedule) together with team dynamics combine to produce project success or failure.
Learning Objectives
 Explores trade-offs among the 3 major project management levers: scope, resources, and
schedule.
 Illustrates importance of and trade-offs associated with level, timing and type of
communication.
 Shows the value of coaching and training.
 Examines importance of team member morale on productivity.
 Highlights the importance of appropriately timing changes in project resource allocation.
 Forces students to navigate projects through uncertainty and unanticipated events.
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MIS 5102, Spring 2011
Project Management Simulation - Phase 1
Viju Raghupathi
 Illustrates the concept that correcting problems early in the course of the project provides
significant benefit.
Simulation Procedure
Purchase the project management simulation from the Harvard Business Publishing website as
described in the syllabus.
The simulation has tabs that you should use, to see in detail, how to play. However, I will give
you a brief synopsis here.
You are given a scenario for a project that you need to manage. You will be given the option to
change the project parameters, by selecting the “decide” tab and clicking on the “Submit” button.
You can see how the project is faring using the parameters you set up, by selecting the “analyze”
tab. This will give you a detailed illustration of the performance of the project using the
parameters. The simulation proceeds as a continuous cycle of adjusting parameters and seeing
the impact of the adjustment on the project progress.
When the simulation is complete, you will be taken to a “project rating” screen that shows your
performance in managing the project. At this point, you are given the option to “start over” and
play the simulation again if you are not satisfied with the performance. You can get the
maximum utility and learning out of the simulation only if you run the simulation a few times
(until you are comfortable).
As mentioned earlier, you can log out and back in, between different runs (not during a run).
Grading
 You do not have to turn in anything. Your work will be saved online as you complete
each run for the simulation. As the administrator, I can see a class summary of each
person’s runs.
 The objective of this phase is to make sure that you learn to run the simulation efficiently.
The pedagogy is learning-by-doing, which implies that this cannot be achieved by a
single run. It would therefore be in your best interest to try out as many runs as you need
to become adept.
 If you have demonstrated your learning efforts, you will be given the full 25 points.
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